National Conference on Forest Products B
We hold the resources of our coun- them to be dissipated. These great
try as a trust. They ought to be used national resources must be adminis-
for the benefit of the present genera- tered for the general welfare of all
tion, but they ought neither to be the people, both for the present and
wasted nor destroyed. The genera- for the future. There must be both
tions to come also have a vested in- use and restoration. The chief pur-
terest in them. They ought to be ad- pose of this conference is to discover
ministered for the benefit of the policies which will, in the hands of
public. No monopoly should be per- private individuals and of public offi-
mitted which would result in profiteer- cers, tend to the further advancement
ing, nor, on the other hand, should of this already well-defined and se-
they be indiscriminately bestowed curely adopted principle. )
upon those who will unwisely permit
THE PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE
By HOWARD M. GORE
Secretary of Agriculture
Let me first express, on behalf of the crops. The purpose now of the De-
Department of Agriculture, our sincere partment of Agriculture is to more ef-
gratification that there has been so fectively translate this valuable in-
hearty and cordial response to the call formation that we have acquired by
for this conference. It shows, on the research and observation into a highly
part of the delegates who have sacri- necessary and beneficial public serv-
ficed their personal affairs to come ice. The Clarke-McNary law, which
here, a generous willingness to serve embodies some of the important parts
a public cause. Your presence gives of Secretary Wallace's policy, lays the
recognition to the fact that a con- foundation for better fire protection on
certed effort is needed to conserve our all our forest lands—certainly, 1 think
timber and that joint action to that everyone will agree, the first step to-
end is feasible. ward better forest handling. It is a
Secretary Wallace gave a great deal step that demands joint action by the
of thought and energy to developing Federal and State Governments and
a national program of forestry. It private timberland owners to work out
fitted into his broad vision of con- successfully; and by the support which
serving and handing down unimpaired has already been accorded to the
to posterity our great heritage of nat- Clarke-McNary law by the various in-
ural resources, of maintaining the terests the department has been most
fertility of our farm lands, of saving gratified.
our grazing lands from deterioration, This conference represents another
of making our forest lands truly pro- important step in the department’s for-
ductive, and of saving our wonderful est policy. In inviting the members of
variety and abundance of wild life. this conference to Washington, Secre-
He conceived of timber growing as a tary Wallace had in mind a fresh and
great and important part of agricul- combined attack by all the agencies
ture, involving the wise and produc- primarily interested on the problem of
tive use of one-fourth of our whole conserving our existing supply of tim-
land area. He looked forward to the ber through more efficient methods of
time when all this great area would utilization. Such an understanding
be redeemed from idleness and used logically fits into the rounded program
for growing successive timber crops of forest conservation which he sought
as our farm lands grow successive to develop. The purpose of this con-
farm crops. He saw productive for- ference supplements the program of
ests, not only as a vital adjunct to timber growing and timber protection
diversified farms, but as essential to by recognizing in timber saving an
maintaining the forest industries and enormous potential addition to our
the forest communities. supply of forest-grown materials in
To the end that our forest soils terms of economic service. Drawn
might perpetually yield timber prod- from many diverse groups and occupa-
ucts, the department has been building tions, the members of this conference
up through research a mass of knowl- have at the present moment a single
edge on timber growing and timber united interest—the interest of tim-
utilization just as earlier it began ber saving. As I see it, the purpose of
building up knowledge on growing, this meeting is to perpetuate and give
storing, marketing, and using food practical expression to that unity of
